• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Band Of Brothers

Share this page

Steve_S

Steve_S

Yoda
Offline
I caught the first two episodes on HBO back in 2001 when the show first aired. I always wanted to finish all ten episodes so I recently took advantage of a sale and bought the DVD set.

WOW!

If you haven't seen this program then you are really missing out. It is well made and very powerful. This is one of those programs that you can't stop thinking about once it's over. I strongly recommend watching it with a good sound system in a dark room. The DVD set offers DTS surround and it really helps enhance the experience. Ordinarily I turn surround effects down a bit but this one was very well done. It was worth every penny of $40 to get the DVD set instead of watching it on HBO or History Channel. I offset the cost by making a couple people who came over to watch with me buy dinner. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Go buy it!
 
I agree, one of the best series ever produced on WW2.
 
Steve, I visited France and Belgium for a couple of months earlier this year on a research trip for my (History) degree. I watched the series through before I went, and then visited the sites such as Carentan, St.Mare Eglise (82nd) and Ardennes. Spent some extra time following the 506th as a result of watching it, Still see the holes and craters in the ardennes forest outside of Bastogne.
To watch that show accompanied by any book by Stephen Ambrose is very powerful. As soon as I returned I reached for that DVD set and watched it all over and it is the best stuff I've seen on TV in a long time.
 
"The Battered Bastards of Bastogne"!!!

That "Greatest Generation" are who/what we've apparently lost track of in "These Days"...

I fear the future: There is no apparent appreciation of the past.

<VERY pleased at the decision to NOT procreate.>

"Withhold your best effort." AKA: "The Buck Stops HERE."

...your children are on their own. I wish them "luck."
 
[ QUOTE ]
"The Battered Bastards of Bastogne"!!!

That "Greatest Generation" are who/what we've apparently lost track of in "These Days"...

I fear the future: There is no apparent appreciation of the past.

<VERY pleased at the decision to NOT procreate.>

"Withhold your best effort." AKA: "The Buck Stops HERE."

...your children are on their own. I wish them "luck."

[/ QUOTE ]

My youngest asked for that series on DVD for Christmas a couple of years ago, and watches them often. He has a deep appreciation for what went on then, so he can't be the only one of his generation...........can he?
 
Hold him close: He respects YOUR councel, obviously... YOU are one who knows that history from personal experience and has passed it through.

...and he is CERTAINLY not alone. My dire opinion is my own. Only TIME will tell.
 
One of my best friends fathers (91 years young) just got back from a week in Belgium, revisiting some of the places that he fought. He landed as a replacement 4 days after D day and made it to the end. I was sent a couple of great photos of Henry, including one of him standing in the memorial at Bastogne.I have another friend that was in the 29th infantry division. Landed at D day, and survived to the end. He had 3 brothers in the war also, and they all made it home.( LBC content, he drives a 94 Jag XJ6) Great men!!
 
My father was a tank commander with the 4th armored division. He lost two shermans but he made it back in one piece. Dad never really talked about his experiences much though, I guess it was just to painful to relive. Also had two uncles and a father in law who went in on D Day and fought their way across europe. Sadly they are all dead now and I miss them dearly.
 
You guys have some of the last remaining knowledge of what WAS... My Ol' Fella went in on the fourth wave at Normandy. Lasted thru to the crossing of the Rhur... Got bounced out of a Quad-50(CAL) AA mount by an 88 round and survived to R&R in London... We only talked about it after my return from Viet Nam when I was 25... Reticence to discuss the events of war, the experience of it, is a "thing" I could then appreciate and understand. His mention of it before that was non-existent. It's a hateful yet shared event only those who've endured it can relate to. A very strange bond: fathers, uncles, cousins, sons... we're all brothers, as "cliche" as it sounds.
 
My Dad was in the Merchant navy during the war and was in the north atlantic convoys and also helping remove the troops at the evacuation of Dunkirk.
 
Back in '84 I was traveling in Belgium on Army business (left SHAPE in my uniform) & when I got to Bastogne it was late...I had driven through the Ardennes in heavy snow most of the day....all hotels were closed so I went by the police station to ask for help....they took me to a bar where the police chief was drinking (bar was in hotel where Gen McAuliffe stayed during the seige).....we all ate & drank late into evening & I wasn't really in condition to drive so hotel owner put me up in McAuliffe's room (they don't rent it)...next morning I toured the area...there were British WWII reenactors everywhere & it was surreal seeing the uniforms & vehicles running around.

Now, think about it...that was in Dec 1984!
 
Most of the inbound and outbound flights carrying troops to and from Europe stop in Bangor, just north of us. These flights include those serving the middle east.

Since 2003 every flight has been met by a group largely made up of WW2 vets in their 80's and 90's. They're on call or on site 24/7. They give the troops snacks, magazines, and free use of cell phones at the airport. Every flight is met with enthusiastic vets applauding and thanking today's military men & women for their service.

We recently met my son on his return from overseas there and the whole affair was coordinated by an 80+ year old fellow who even called us at 6am that morning to give us a revised arrival time. This man has met every flight, in and out, with only a couple of exceptions since 2003. He often stays there 24 hours at a clip so as not to miss any. That's commitment.

bangor1.jpg


bangor2.jpg



[The group is called the "Bangor Greeters" and has been written up in various national newspapers. ]
 
....still giving a half century later!!! What a generation...
 
I had relatives on both sides. My mom is German, their family was mostly Luftwaffe - My Opa helped design part of the Stuka for Junkers, then moved on to Messerschmitt. He then designed the Luftwaffe airfields in Vichy France. He never joined the Nazi party, so when the Americans came into Mannheim they let my moms family stay in their home.

Dad is Cherokee Indian. Lot's of stories about radio talking during "the Break Out" - D-day +30, Uncle was a sniper - shot out of a water tower by a German sniper - he survived. Two uncles fought their way through without a scratch. Another uncle played baseball for the Army, in Europe, during the duration. My wife had 5 Uncles in the war. One almost lost his leg to a mortar at Anzio. Another an Army Ranger in the Pacific - wounded and survived. All made it through. Dad was too young, Him and a brother where in Korea. These guys didn't talk much, but they always talked to me. I loved listening to their stories. I always regret that I didn't serve. Always regret it.
 
Thank You All!
It's nice to hear about the "Last Great Generation",
who believe in doing the right thing.
I'm proud to say that our oldest Son has an appreciation
for that generation (Serving in the Navy in Mayport,Florida,
aboard "The Sullivans" Destroyer.
Hoping to make it out there next May - maybe stop by & see the "Doc".

- Doug
 
You'd be most welcome! Jack, scott, rick... There's a few of us "down here."
 
The DVD set is awesome. I've been watching the episodes over again since my tapes are pretty lousy. Several years ago I got to visit France with a friend who was teaching over there, and we went and toured Bayeux. Actually stood on what was Omaha beach, and toured inland where the German gun batteries are still in place, and saw all the untouched blast craters. Pretty awe-inspiring to think what happened there over WW2.
 
I'm with you all, guys, Band of Bros is the best ever.

And, you've GOT to go see Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers". I saw it last weekend, a very touching, haunting story of the 5 flag raisers at Iwo Jima.

The battle scenes are edited wonderfully and seem to float in and out of the conciousness of each of the men who were there and raised the flags (yes, there were two flags raised that day).

Take time to go see it. Your wife will probably like it, too. Mine did, and she usually doesn't care for "war" movies.

This is much more than a war movie. You'll see. If Eastwood doesn't get another Oscar for this one, I'd be very surprised.
 
Back
Top